If OKC doesn’t make the finals, do you think they will get a pass from the media/fans?

[ECA]

They were projected for 57 wins this season. That championship window starts now

 

[Street Knowledge]

Yes.

This is the first year they are clicking.

A one seed isn’t “clicking”?

 

[Don Homer]

Yes.

This is the first year they are clicking.

they won 57 games last year.

the team chemistry/camaraderie was great then

 

[Lil Bape the PostGod]

Media will just talk about how the lakers season ended instead

 

[mbewane]

Less than the WCF would be disappointing given the season they're having, but it's not like this group has really made noise like that in the playoffs yet. They just made it back in last year. We all know the POs are a different animal, their only positive experience in a 7 game series is beating the Pelicans lol.

 

[In The Zone '98]

TV narrative wise somebody will call it a failure for engagement

If they run into a We Believe like opponent, so be it

It appears to be the Cavs and Thunder time. So they gotta lock in

 

[Don Homer]

Less than the WCF would be disappointing given the season they're having, but it's not like this group has really made noise like that in the playoffs yet. They just made it back in last year. We all know the POs are a different animal, their only positive experience in a 7 game series is beating the Pelicans lol.

So Shai can have a 57-win season and 60+ win season b2b and still be playing with house money. Incredible

 

[SchoolboyC]

If this about his first Finals, Tatum caught shìt for not performing at his level and I've gone to bat for him on here trying to get people to acknowledge that he was playing with 1 shoulder.

I'm not looking for anything both ways. You're taking to the extreme of "title or underdog", not me. There's a world in between that, especially when we haven't seen a team this young be this dominant.

You also said "Chet and I-Hart" both healthy meaning that's not given, there's already a caveat.

I didn’t say they have to win the title, but if their core players are all healthy then yes I would consider them losing in the semis or WCF a disappointment. Back to back seasons as the 1 seed with nothing to show for it in the postseason being considered a failure shouldn’t be seen as controversial

Underdog doesn’t have too be literal. The point is expectations come with success, if they are as great as advertised (which I think they are) then they need to be held to that standard.

Health is a caveat for any team

 

[bl2k8]

No, even though they will have much more competition in rounds 1 and 2 compared to the East, they don’t have a Cleveland or Boston level team at the top to challenge them

 

[Shadow King]

I didn’t say they have to win the title, but if their core players are all healthy then yes I would consider them losing in the semis or WCF a disappointment. Back to back seasons as the 1 seed with nothing to show for it in the postseason being considered a failure shouldn’t be seen as controversial

Underdog doesn’t have too be literal. The point is expectations come with success, if they are as great as advertised (which I think they are) then they need to be held to that standard.

Health is a caveat for any team

You made it literal by calling them an underdog, nobody has used that phrase but you in an attempt to polarize the argument.

They would not be the first contenders to not win for 2 years.

 

[SchoolboyC]

You made it literal by calling them an underdog, nobody has used that phrase but you in an attempt to polarize the argument.

They would not be the first contenders to not win for 2 years.

If you want to be semantical about it then go ahead.

They would not be the first contenders to not win for 2 years, that also doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a failure. It doesn’t mean that they would have to blow the team up or that their core can’t win one in the future, but for this specific season - I will view anything less than a Finals appearance a disappointment based on how they’ve played to this point. They have played at a level that imo shows they have the tools to make a run

Also if we’re using age as a valid reason to not win then why even discuss them as serious contenders in the first place. If they’re still too young to win they why even put them in title discussions?

 

[mbewane]

So Shai can have a 57-win season and 60+ win season b2b and still be playing with house money. Incredible

I'm just saying, if they don't make it to the Finals they'll probably be hit but not that hard. Contrary to say Tatum or Luka SGA's neither in a big market (Tatum) nor a figure that gets fans and haters riled up (Luka). He's just steady. And as an organisation they just got two key elements this year plus have tons of draft picks still. Everybody knows they're gonna be at the top of the league for realistically 5 or 6 years.

Also contenders aren't born in the RS but in the playoffs. They've won ONE playoff series. Personally I'll really believe if they make the WCF. They sould, but I wouldn't be shocked if they don't. You can't learn pressure, you've got to live it

 

[Consigliere]

They’re in the exact same position as the Celtics the year they lost in the finals. They are 1 year early hitting their championship window due to all the mediocre and old teams in their conference.

It’s amazing that they are performing this well. They’re playing with house money this year.

 

[Shadow King]

If you want to be semantical about it then go ahead.

They would not be the first contenders to not win for 2 years, that also doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a failure. It doesn’t mean that they would have to blow the team up or that their core can’t win one in the future, but for this specific season - I will view anything less than a Finals appearance a disappointment based on how they’ve played to this point. They have played at a level that imo shows they have the tools to make a run

Also if we’re using age as a valid reason to not win then why even discuss them as serious contenders in the first place. If they’re still too young to win they why even put them in title discussions?

I'm not being semantical about anything, you're whining because Tatum got flack for poor play in his first Finals and you're looking to keep the cycle going.

We're discussing them as a serious contenders because they are. They are also the first where you're hard-pressed to find team members before before Biggie died. They're a historic anomaly so there's no cookie cutter narrative to assign to them.

 

[qnsfinest]

No, even though they will have much more competition in rounds 1 and 2 compared to the East, they don’t have a Cleveland or Boston level team at the top to challenge them

Celtics and Cavs first round potential opponents will be combination of a healthy magic, hawks, heat team is harder than okc vs suns, wolves or kings.